GOMBE, Nigeria (CHATNEWSTV) — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Mustapha Mohammed, the Chief Executive Officer of MB Lugga Global Travels and Tours Limited, on three counts of fraud involving N144,162,500, a court official said Friday.
Mohammed appeared before Justice T.G. Ringim of the Federal High Court in Gombe on charges related to obtaining money under false pretenses for the 2024 Ramadan Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Prosecutors allege that between December 2023 and February 2024, Mohammed and an accomplice, Nazifi Sale Idris (now at large), fraudulently collected large sums from clients for flight tickets, visas, and accommodations, knowing the promises were false.
One of the charges states: “That you, Mustapha Mohammed, while being the Chief Executive Officer of MB Lugga Global Travel and Tours Limited, did with intent to defraud, falsely obtain through your personal Access Bank account the sum of N97,080,000 from one Hamza Ibrahim Maina for the purpose of Hajj travel, which you knew to be false.”
EFCC counsel S.H. Saad urged the court to deny bail, arguing that Mohammed faces eight additional fraud petitions amounting to N120,869,500 and could flee Nigeria if released.
“For the interest of justice, we urge my Lord not to grant the defendant bail,” Saad told the court.
Defense lawyer M.Z. Gambo moved for bail, but Justice Ringim adjourned the case for a ruling on the application and ordered that Mohammed be remanded at Gombe State Correctional Facility.
